News Odisha

Chandrapur belies Naveen govt’s growth narrative

Chandrapur: Over three years have passed since Sabyasachi Panda, the topmost Maoist leader of Odisha operating from his hideout in Chandrapur block in Rayagada district, was arrested. It is said that after his arrest, the citadel of Red terror in the area collapsed.

But the real picture is different. As a visitor today enters Chandrapur block, a heavily guarded Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp greets him at Dangasorada. In the next few kilometers, two more CRPF camps await for them at Hanumanthpur and Raibiji.

The rugged 54-km road meandering through thick forests from Munigudua town to Chandrapur block headquarters look almost deserted during the journey.

Occasionally, a few buses and Mahindra Bolero vehicles are seen plying on the road as cars and other vehicles don’t venture into the area fearing breakdown on the way. It takes the bus and SUVs more than two hours to cover the 54-km distance.

On the way, one would come across shocking scenes of people, mostly frail tribals, walking barefoot on the road, taking bath in the muddy waters of streams and creeks gushing down from the nearby hills.

On the way, one would find CRPF jawans – armed to their teeth – engaged in the anti-Maoist duties.

Three years after Sabyasachi’s arrest, Chandrapur still resembles a war-ravaged zone.

During Sabyasachi Panda’s period, Chandrapur was the laboratory of the Maoists in Odisha. The rebel leader not only used to conduct the entire Left Wing Extremism activities in the state from here, - but also trained the cadres and helped the top Maoists leaders hide here. Surrounded by sky-high hills and dotted with thick forests, the area has remained inaccessible since Independence sans motorable roads.

Bhima Gagarenga, the former chairman of Chandrapur block, the roads which were built during the British period and in 1960s, were hardly improved in recent times. Many bridges and culverts constructed in recent years caved in due to inferior quality.

“Only five concrete roads have been constructed in the last 10 years while funds coming on the head remain unutilized. Unemployment problem is assuming serious proportions as youths do not deserve to get jobs due to lack of higher education,” said Mr Gagarenga.

The block does not have a single college. Only 22 students are pursuing +2 Arts education in an extension study centre of a private college based at 200 km away in Koraput.

What helped the rebels to spread their tentacles here is the poverty of the people which they exploited to the core. They succeeded in recruiting cadres from here to replenish the losses they suffered from time to time in counter with the police and paramilitary forces.

As many as six civilians and a CRPF jawan have been killed in the Maoist-security personnel clash in the area in recent times.

“Chandrapur block in Odisha is perhaps a cursed land where people cannot think of living their life with minimum facilities. With around 71.74 per cent of its 28,952 population belonging to tribal communities and another 11.80 per cent belonging to scheduled caste, the block does not have a college, proper healthcare facilities and other utility services,” says Sujeet Bredeka, Sarapanch of Chandrapur.

He adds that as there are no good connecting roads from almost 50 per cent villages to the block headquarters. Many people walk 20 to 30 km to reach the block office to receive their wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), old-age and widow pensions, physically handicapped allowances, Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) work orders and other benefits.

“Very often, the beneficiaries spend nights at the block headquarters due to power failure and lack of sustained internet connectivity. Since most of the payments are made online, failure of internet connectivity cripples operations at the block office. The entire block has no private mobile networks as the operators never ventured into area, initially due to the fear of Maoists and now as they consider it not worth operating in the area due to its poor economic base. The three BSNL mobile towers fail to serve the people due to frequent power failure,” says the young Sarpanch.

Intertwined with dozens of ravines and rivulet gushing down from nearby hills, block has 218 revenue villages and over 90 hamlets. Of the total 5885 families, at least 5450 families (92.60 per cent) live Below Poverty Lin (BPL).

“I don’t think any block in the country has got such a huge number of families under BPL category. The literacy rate is also abysmally as low as 38.95 per cent, one of the lowest in the state. Hence, people are not often aware of the government entitlements and facilities. Their ignorance often leads to their exploitation in the hands of local touts and landlords. We have seen in the past such lapses resulting in the area turning to be the breeding ground of LWE elements. We apprehend if the neglect persist and people continues to battle similar deprivations and exploitations, the LWE elements might again raise their ugly heads,” said Bhima Gagarenga.

The block does not a nationalized bank. Utkal Gramya Bank, a regional bank, does not allow its client to withdraw more than Rs 2,000 per day. As a result, persons requiring more than Rs 2,000 for particular purposes like healthcare of their relatives and education of their children suffer a lot.

Recently, the state government has posted a fresh Odisha Administrative Officer (OAS) as Block Development Officer (BDO). Unlike his predecessors, the young BDO - George Dungdung, is staying in the block headquarters instead and working overtime to address various issues.

“I got posted in May, 2017. This is my first posting after I cracked OAS. At present, I’m working on a mission mode. I’m trying to ensure that all the schools have teachers and every hospital in the block gets the required number of staff. Besides, we are preparing action plans to be submitted for improvement of road conditions,” said the BDO.

Pramod Kumar Sahukar, the ruling BJD’s Chandrapur unit president, said emphasis was being given for corruption-free execution of development works so as not to give any chance to LWE elements to reassert themselves here and derail the development process initiated by the administration.

“In the past we have seen the rebels making corruption a major issue to evoke people’s sympathy for their activities. In fact, they succeeded in their attempt to a great extent. Now, we are trying to ensure that they do not get such a chance. Wherever, corruptions have taken place, we are bringing them to the notice of appropriate authorities for actions,” said Mr Sahukar.

By A K SAHOO

21/10/2017

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